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December 02, 2009
Gobble At ’Em - 9
The fall turkey season has passed here in Maine, with a winter to go before spring opportunities. Others remain open around the country. No matter, it's all good. I was out there this morning, scouting; just looking, listening. Fresh scratchings told the story of a flock that had moved through that hillside and creekbottom the afternoon before, after the rain showers passed. The morning was still; sunny, frosty and cold. And then I heard it up the hill: first a yawp-yawp-yawp gobbler yelp, then a gobble, and yet another, ringing out, and sending a pleasant shiver through me. It nevers gets old. Sure enough, autumn and winter turkeys gobble on the roost. They gobble when regrouping after a flock break. If they’re fall jakes born that year, they gobble after making a kee-kee-run, tagging it right on the end of that call, especially as the days push toward winter. I’ve scattered autumn longbeards only to have each one gobble hard on their return to the flush site. Don’t believe me? Have you tried it? These vocalizations are obviously made as male turkeys try to locate each other. Despite what you might have heard from the guy who says they don’t gobble in fall or winter, you need to get out there and hear it for yourself. True enough, hearing that gobble isn’t as reliable as it is in spring. Spring gobblers call to draw hens to their roosted or ground-standing position. Fall and winter gobblers likely do it to indicate their location too, but to male turkeys, since longbeard and "super jake" groups hang together now before wild turkeys of either sex flock up, often due to a limited food source. Jake gangs sometimes form in late autumn and early winter as they contest family flock stability. Some territorial dominance is also likely at play when male turkeys gobble in fall and winter. Down south, breeding activity can also begin as early as February and March. Tip: In some parts of the country, where fall turkey seasons are still available, even winter opportunities to come, a little gobbling goes a long way as a calling tactic. Use it sparingly when you have a group of fall or winter gobblers roosted in earshot before they fly-down. Maybe run that gobble tube, like the Quaker Boy options pictured here, once or twice when they’re on the ground in conjunction with fighting purrs. Buddy hunters can double up on vocalizations this way, but again, don’t overdo it. This calling strategy shouldn’t be a musical jam session but a perfectly choreographed and well-timed vocalization: brief in duration and hopefully effective.
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Comments (9)
man you got me wishing it was spring season already cant wait!
Hey patrick88. Thanks for checking in. Yeah man, I know what you mean. Hunted turkeys in six states this year. Plotting 2010 right now. Looks like California will be in the lineup. Claiming calendar dates and getting everything organized is part of the fun. We'll keep ya posted here on the SZ. -Steve
Thanks for the tip Steve;
firearm deer season is still open here for another week and half. Turkey season has reopened and the flocks are getting bigger. Most of the corn is still standing. Many hunters are expressing concern about the population because they are not seeing turkeys in the open fields. There are always grassy openings in the corn fields where corn didn't grow and the grass seeds have been protected from freezing rain and snow. When you can locate these you have found turkey hotspots. I locate them by watching the turkeys fly down heading into the field or climbing a tree and glassing the field.
Then charge through the corn towards the suspect area, the turkeys apparently feel secure until I reach the opening then pandemonium breaks out. A beautiful sight indeed.
Later,
charlie
thanks for the info steve hope your 2010 is a exciteing one.yes and keep us updated can always use helpful hints!
Love that tree climbing/glassing for flocks trick charlie elk.
You brought to mind a Pennsylvania fall turkey hunt years ago. We were puzzled about flock location, as the sign was boot-sole deep. We set up, cold called, watied. At one point, a shot came from the far, far woods, and then, bedlam. Maybe 50+ turkeys running every which way out of the standing corn below us on the sloping pasture; like ants from picnic cake they were.
Still laugh at that.
Um, make that "waited." Need to find my reading glasses. There, that's better.
Q. for charlie elk: Another turkey-hunting contact in Wisconsin mentioned the ongoing deer season, and the blaze orange regulation. Have you tried the turkeys wearing pumpkin colors? I did one memorable time, years ago in NH, during the reg. firearms whitetail season. No orange reg there, but I wore it anyhow. Hooded sweatshirt. Cap. Broke up a fall longbeard flock of 5 nice birds the night before. Good scatter. The bow-only turkey season was underway, so I was out there, not far from the flush site, early the next morning. Called 'em in, and in they came. 10 steps.
Of course, what did I do? Whiffed is what. Still the orange (frozen still as a popsicle) didn't faze 'em. I figure camo gives us guys more confidence though. Give me my Realtree and other flavors most of the time. -Steve
Camo is a package of which color is only 1 part; light reflection back to the game's eye and form are the other big ones. Hair absorbs light so not as much is reflected back to the eye. That is why it is hard to detect hiding animals. For this reason wool is a good clothing choice even if it is orange.
Most important is breaking up the human form particularly the head to shoulder outline. Boonie or bomber hat with ear flaps loose down to neck very good on cold days. Caps are very bad. Stump impersonations are good.
All game readily notices orange better than any other color. Whether they have the experience to be afraid of it or not is the difference between hesitation or immediately turning themselves inside out to get away.
Turkeys do not usually get shot at by hunters in orange here in WI so hopefully they have no danger connection with orange. I wear very dark camo orange pattern.
This is the first year turkey season has reopened for the month of Dec. Making it my first chance to kill a winter turkey. I'm pumped and ready. I hiked about 7 miles today through and around 600 acres of standing corn with falling snow - glassed from a tree stand - no turkeys.
Back at em tomorrow,
charlie
Regarding your PA hunt experience that is so cool when that happens. In the spring you get a few turkeys when you get in the fall turkeys the flocks are huge and rowdy.
While the season was closed here last week I walked into the largest flock of super jakes and gobblers I'd ever found. Had to be at least 30 of em, they scattered well and begin yelping to regroup almost immediately. Was wearing a pumpkin vest then.
Later,
charlie
Steve,I bought your book about fall and winter turkey hunting strategies,loved it and it helped a lot in bagging my first fall bird.
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Thanks for the tip Steve;
firearm deer season is still open here for another week and half. Turkey season has reopened and the flocks are getting bigger. Most of the corn is still standing. Many hunters are expressing concern about the population because they are not seeing turkeys in the open fields. There are always grassy openings in the corn fields where corn didn't grow and the grass seeds have been protected from freezing rain and snow. When you can locate these you have found turkey hotspots. I locate them by watching the turkeys fly down heading into the field or climbing a tree and glassing the field.
Then charge through the corn towards the suspect area, the turkeys apparently feel secure until I reach the opening then pandemonium breaks out. A beautiful sight indeed.
Later,
charlie
Hey patrick88. Thanks for checking in. Yeah man, I know what you mean. Hunted turkeys in six states this year. Plotting 2010 right now. Looks like California will be in the lineup. Claiming calendar dates and getting everything organized is part of the fun. We'll keep ya posted here on the SZ. -Steve
Love that tree climbing/glassing for flocks trick charlie elk.
You brought to mind a Pennsylvania fall turkey hunt years ago. We were puzzled about flock location, as the sign was boot-sole deep. We set up, cold called, watied. At one point, a shot came from the far, far woods, and then, bedlam. Maybe 50+ turkeys running every which way out of the standing corn below us on the sloping pasture; like ants from picnic cake they were.
Still laugh at that.
Um, make that "waited." Need to find my reading glasses. There, that's better.
Q. for charlie elk: Another turkey-hunting contact in Wisconsin mentioned the ongoing deer season, and the blaze orange regulation. Have you tried the turkeys wearing pumpkin colors? I did one memorable time, years ago in NH, during the reg. firearms whitetail season. No orange reg there, but I wore it anyhow. Hooded sweatshirt. Cap. Broke up a fall longbeard flock of 5 nice birds the night before. Good scatter. The bow-only turkey season was underway, so I was out there, not far from the flush site, early the next morning. Called 'em in, and in they came. 10 steps.
Of course, what did I do? Whiffed is what. Still the orange (frozen still as a popsicle) didn't faze 'em. I figure camo gives us guys more confidence though. Give me my Realtree and other flavors most of the time. -Steve
man you got me wishing it was spring season already cant wait!
thanks for the info steve hope your 2010 is a exciteing one.yes and keep us updated can always use helpful hints!
Camo is a package of which color is only 1 part; light reflection back to the game's eye and form are the other big ones. Hair absorbs light so not as much is reflected back to the eye. That is why it is hard to detect hiding animals. For this reason wool is a good clothing choice even if it is orange.
Most important is breaking up the human form particularly the head to shoulder outline. Boonie or bomber hat with ear flaps loose down to neck very good on cold days. Caps are very bad. Stump impersonations are good.
All game readily notices orange better than any other color. Whether they have the experience to be afraid of it or not is the difference between hesitation or immediately turning themselves inside out to get away.
Turkeys do not usually get shot at by hunters in orange here in WI so hopefully they have no danger connection with orange. I wear very dark camo orange pattern.
This is the first year turkey season has reopened for the month of Dec. Making it my first chance to kill a winter turkey. I'm pumped and ready. I hiked about 7 miles today through and around 600 acres of standing corn with falling snow - glassed from a tree stand - no turkeys.
Back at em tomorrow,
charlie
Regarding your PA hunt experience that is so cool when that happens. In the spring you get a few turkeys when you get in the fall turkeys the flocks are huge and rowdy.
While the season was closed here last week I walked into the largest flock of super jakes and gobblers I'd ever found. Had to be at least 30 of em, they scattered well and begin yelping to regroup almost immediately. Was wearing a pumpkin vest then.
Later,
charlie
Steve,I bought your book about fall and winter turkey hunting strategies,loved it and it helped a lot in bagging my first fall bird.
Post a Comment (200 characters or less)